episode_0028

Bertnia was a country girl living in a small village.

She was a kind-hearted young girl who helped with the farm work.

“Father, I finished plowing the field for today.”

It was a considerable amount of work.

But for Bertnia, who had innate strength, it was no problem at all.

“Thank you, Bertnia. I’m so glad you’re my daughter.”

“Hehe, no problem!”

As Bertnia peacefully grew up as a country maiden, a crisis struck.

Or more precisely, Bertnia’s village.

Bandits attacked the village.

The villagers fought back with their weapons, but they were outnumbered.

As they were pushed back, they had no choice but to allow the bandits to invade.

Amidst the chaos, Bertnia trembled in fear, hiding under the bed.

Clutching a hoe tightly in her hand.

The outside was noisy.

Even without going out, Bertnia could tell.

“…Everyone is definitely being killed by the bandits.”

Death.

It was clear that they were paying with their lives for failing to protect the village.

Bertnia prayed for survival.

For herself, for her father.

To survive the bandits.

She even prayed to the god she never believed in, Leashin.

But-

Creak-.

Unfortunately, Leashin did not answer Bertnia’s prayers.

The door of the house opened, and a bandit entered.

Thud, thud.

The dull sound of footsteps echoed through the house.

Despite the commotion outside, the sound of footsteps was clear in Bertnia’s ears.

And then, the sound of the door opening again.

‘Oh, they’re here.’

The bandit had entered the room where Bertnia was hiding.

‘I have to prepare myself.’

Under the bed, Bertnia steeled herself.

She might have to use the hoe in her hand against a person.

“Hmm…? Is anyone here?”

The bandit’s voice as he searched the room.

For a moment, Bertnia felt relieved.

Her resolve from earlier had dulled slightly.

And then…

“I found you here!”

The rough-looking bandit’s face appeared in Bertnia’s sight.

The bandit looked at Bertnia by the bed.

Bertnia’s body moved before her thoughts.

She thrust the hoe in her hand towards the bandit’s face.

The startled bandit dodged the hoe and stumbled back.

At the same time, Bertnia hurriedly crawled out from under the bed.

And…

“…If you come any closer, I’ll kill you!”

Bertnia threatened the bandit with the hoe raised.

Trembling with fear, she spoke.

The bandit sneered at Bertnia.

“Haha, little girl. Killing someone is not that easy.”

The bandit slowly approached Bertnia.

“Give up quickly…”

There was a lecherous look in the bandit’s eyes.

Disgust.

The first thing Bertnia felt towards the bandit’s slimy gaze was disgust.

But then, a strange emotion arose from what happened next.

With the hoe ready to strike, Bertnia felt a surge of unknown power in her body, like when she helped plow the fields.

The ability of the chosen one, the power of magic.

A simple yet powerful magic power was imbued in Bertnia’s body.

Like when she plowed the fields, Bertnia swung the hoe with all her might.

The bandit, thinking of a child swinging a hoe, tried to block it with his hand.

But.

The speed at which the hoe came down was extraordinary.

Before he could block it with his hand, the hoe was already heading towards the bandit’s head.

The bandit tried to twist his body to avoid it.

But it was already too late.

Thunk.

The hoe struck the bandit’s head, and he crumpled to the ground.

And Bertnia, who had carried out the act.

She trembled without saying a word.

“I… I killed him….”

Her first murder.

It was something that would never happen to an ordinary country girl.

Verthenia sensed it.

That her fate had changed because of this.

At the same time-.

“Run! The knights are here!”

“Ah… she’s alive!!!”

The ones who came to save the village.

And Verthenia lost her mind due to the excessive stress from her first murder.

***

Verthenia, who was once an ordinary country girl.

She realized her talent.

Inherent power.

Verthenia, who recognized her own abilities.

She refused to live as an ordinary country girl any longer.

And so, she became a famous mercenary based on that power.

“Hey, Miss. When are you planning to get married?”

“…Someday.”

Verthenia had become a well-known figure in the world of mercenaries.

She even led her own mercenary group.

It was a success story of an ordinary country girl.

But now, the only thing she was worried about was marriage.

“I thought I would get married soon.”

Marriage came quickly for the country girl.

So she thought she would also marry early, but being a mercenary was different.

As she grew older, no good man who wanted to marry her appeared.

Of course, there was another big reason why Verthenia couldn’t get married.

“If you really plan to get married, you should go to another town.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Well, it’s not because of your usual behavior!”

Verthenia’s usual behavior.

It couldn’t be said to be good.

She was very open about men.

“Why do you reveal men so openly?”

“…So I won’t regret it?”

Verthenia recalled an old memory.

The memory of her first murder.

She didn’t even know she could have died back then.

Thinking like that, she decided to do whatever she wanted and live her life to the fullest.

The reason she became a mercenary was also influenced by that.

Life as a mercenary seemed much more fun than the boring life of a country girl.

“Just revealing men won’t do. Why are you so good at fighting? Well, if you feel okay, you fight right away. That’s why you can’t get married!”

But Verthenia had an excuse for this as well.

“Well, what can I do? It’s because of the abilities I have.”

Verthenia had always been strong since she was young.

But that strength didn’t always work in her favor.

As strong as she was, her sexual desire was also strong.

To the point where it was hard to control.

“Ugh… Honestly, if you weren’t strong, people would have talked behind your back and avoided you.”

Because of her improper behavior.

“Me? Why?”

“I’ll leave it at that….”

Verthenia lived a reckless life that could be described as extravagant.

And a turning point in fate came to her.

“…The Messiah Viscountcy?”

“That’s right. A famous family known for producing knights. They carry the title of ‘Viscount of the Sword’ for generations.”

“Hmm… But why are they looking for me there?”

“Well, it’s probably some noble trying to recruit a renowned mercenary for their forces. So, are you going? This mercenary group won’t fall apart just because you leave. The people below are hoping for a chance for you to do well.”

“Um….”

Verthenia pondered for a long time.

It was because she had never once thought she would become a knight.

“But Miss… about that?”

“What do you mean?”

“Most knights are of noble birth.”

“Nobles, well, that makes sense, right?”

“I heard that nobles who lose in succession battles become knights.”

“But why is that?”

“Well, it’s said that if you’re going to get married, you should marry a strong man.”

Verthenia remembered her usual words.

It was definitely true.

“Being a knight naturally means being a strong man, and coming from a noble background on top of that. Wouldn’t it be a good idea to try going with the thought of finding a good match?”

“Oh? That does make sense, doesn’t it?”

Bertnia didn’t hesitate much.

In fact, it was a proposal that didn’t require much thought.

It was for Bertnia, who wanted to find a good man.

And so, Bertnia set off as the Viscountess Messiah and became a knight.

***

The training ground of the Viscountess Messiah.

There, a man directed harsh words towards Bertnia.

“Hmph, just a useless woman.”

Insults thrown to her face.

Bertnia decided to endure it at least once.

‘Since I’ve become a knight, I should bear with this.’

Bertnia looked at the man who insulted her.

Great Baxter.

Bertnia already knew why he insulted her.

‘Because I rejected his advances.’

Bertnia’s appearance was beautiful.

Different from ordinary women, she exuded more of a healthy beauty than elegance.

Because of her looks, Baxter took an interest in Bertnia.

Approaching her, he blatantly tried to seduce her.

But-

‘Just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean any man is good enough.’

Bertnia had strong desires.

But that didn’t mean she lacked discernment.

She had no intention of sleeping with someone like Baxter, who was ugly and weak.

“Tsk, a woman like you should just live alone without ever getting married.”

A second insult.

Bertnia decided not to tolerate the insult about not getting married.

“You’re just a loudmouthed brat!”

Bertnia moved her leg.

And that leg hit Baxter’s groin precisely.

Gasping in pain, Great Baxter collapsed.

Facing him, Bertnia brought out the temperament she had when she was in a mercenary group.

“Kah- Thud! Try spewing nonsense with that loud mouth again. Next time, I’ll just crush you.”

Having said that, Bertnia was prepared.

‘I defeated a senior knight, so of course I’ll be fired… Ah… I wanted to marry a handsome and strong noble knight…’

Bertnia thought she would be fired.

But it was actually Baxter, her senior, who was fired.

Through this incident, Bertnia met Andrew Messiah, the Viscount, for the first time.

She asked him.

“Why didn’t you fire me?”

“You were stronger than Great. And…”

“And…?”

“There should be at least one woman in the knight order. It would be good for my daughter too.”

For some reason, Bertnia felt a sense of disappointment.

But-

‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’

Just being able to stay in the knight order was enough.

She thought she would find a good man someday if she continued her knight activities here.

After five years.

Bertnia became the leader.

But she still hadn’t found a marriage partner.

Growing anxious, Bertnia had one thought.

‘He’s a potential fiancé… So, technically, he’s not my fiancé yet… Maybe I should…?’

Currently, Bertnia was in a state of urgency, even aiming for the fiancé of the lord’s daughter.